Cuttlefish-discussion on wide angle lense and Strobe lighting

[waisj]

As per what we have discussed in UWCS SEED IV,

here is a picture of a cuttlefish, i was about 30 CM away from it



with a wide angle lense, i would have been able to fill the frame with the cuttle fish without cropping away the tentacles

As for lighting, if one strobe would be used on the left , the coral bundle on the right would not have been properly lit up, if strobe was firing from the left with a upward 45 degree angle, (you will not want to place your strobes horizontaly facing the cuttlefish for obvious reasons)

If the strobe was placed on the right, the coral and the head of the cuttle fish would have been litted up properly, but a harsh shadow will be imminent on the left of the cuttle fish, it would not light up the left side of the cuttle fish.

which just goes to prove that having 2 strobes will "improve" your photos dramatically.... provided they are lit properly and the correct strobe placement and lighting techniques are used.

which in turn goes to prove that having strobes is a huge task loading especially when you have not used them before; and not sure about the lighting techniques, minimising backscatter , not overblowing highlights, strobe placement angels, Hotspots ...etc

p/s this is photographed witha C5050Z in an ikelite housing with a diffuser, no external strobes.

[kng]

I like the cuttlefish photo! Personally, I think that this photo is v well taken considering the lack of strobes. Of course having all the tentacles in the frame will be preferably but perhaps a little cropping and PS cld help? What do you guys think?

[waisj]

ooooooo i like the effect..... KNG very nice....

reduced alot of the cyan.. man you are good..!!

[zedd]

Can't see KNG's touch-up pic. Please re-post. thanks.

This was shot using a single strobe on the left.
I normally faced the camera a little upwards to get more negative space.
Yes, correctly positioned 2 strobes at correct intensity would have been more natural looking.

Cheers




edited to show hotlink image
moderator
Underwater Photography

[beivied]

i can see it quite fine leh.

[waisj]

Originally Posted by zedd Can't see KNG's touch-up pic. Please re-post. thanks. This was shot using a single strobe on the left. I normally faced the camera a little upwards to get more negative space. Yes, correctly positioned 2 strobes at correct intensity would have been more natural looking. Cheers http://hilary.clubsnap.org/gallery/Aur/PB085556

ohh ..
love your shadow cast..... and the aperture squeeze.... nice efect...

gee.. now i really gian strobes........ (must resist)

till jan only fyi ike sync cords for inon strobes comin' yippeeee

which strobes you using? loved the days when i was shooting wide with twin strobes....

[beivied]

haha, uncle, your photos are already good enough to make us drool .... looks like someone is going for wide angle now ah ^_^

[waisj]

Originally Posted by beivied looks like someone is going for wide angle now ah ^_^

ya lor... i "beau"ing the inon wide angle lense leh.... also strobes.. wah.. now really broke ah......


add dome port.??


hmmmm

sponsor anyone??

[zedd]

Originally Posted by beivied i can see it quite fine leh.

Must be doing something wrong. hmmm...

[zedd]

Originally Posted by waisj ohh .. love your shadow cast..... and the aperture squeeze.... nice efect... gee.. now i really gian strobes........ (must resist) till jan only fyi ike sync cords for inon strobes comin' yippeeee which strobes you using? loved the days when i was shooting wide with twin strobes....

Thanks. Using an Ikelite DS125 with the Inon WA
Heard a lot of good things about the Inon strobes. Awaiting your post.

BTW, was experimenting with 2 strobes - DS125 + DS50 last trip in the Maldives. Still getting a lot of backscatter and it's really a drag with strong current. Feel free to check it out:

http://hilary.clubsnap.org/gallery/Maldives2003

Happy New year everybody !!

[kng]

Originally Posted by zedd Must be doing something wrong. hmmm...

perhaps you cld try this instead?

http://www.photocrafter.net/Media/sh...id=132&pid=775

Love your cuttlefish!! Was it a night dive or were you just using a small aperture setting?

[waisj]

Originally Posted by zedd Thanks. Using an Ikelite DS125 with the Inon WA

wah....
my dream strobes... and dream lense.....

sell me?? do you own the inon monter dome as well?

which housing are you using currently?

have you tried CFWA? does the single DS125 provide enough coverage to lit the scene with the wide angle lense?

hope you dont mine me asking so many question

[waisj]

Originally Posted by kng perhaps you cld try this instead? http://www.photocrafter.net/Media/sh...id=132&pid=775 Love your cuttlefish!! Was it a night dive or were you just using a small aperture setting?

hmmmm

our resident night kitten is out.!!! hee hee

[kng]

Originally Posted by waisj hmmmm our resident night kitten is out.!!! hee hee

who can that be? r you referring to yourself?

[lovells19]

wAhhh you all are ppl leh!

i just spent almost 3k on my new gears now im being tempted to buy strobe!!??



please someone save me!!! :P

[waisj]

Originally Posted by lovells19 wAhhh you all are ppl leh! i just spent almost 3k on my new gears now im being tempted to buy strobe!!?? please someone save me!!! :P

yes yes...


BUY BUY BUY DIVE DIVE DIVE

[zedd]

Originally Posted by waisj wah.... my dream strobes... and dream lense..... sell me?? do you own the inon monter dome as well? which housing are you using currently? have you tried CFWA? does the single DS125 provide enough coverage to lit the scene with the wide angle lense? hope you dont mine me asking so many question

No I have not got the dome yet. really ex and and I think it's heavy. DS125 does provide enough coverage for the Inon WA alone especially if the diffusser is on.

I'm using the Oly housing and just switch to the C5050 + PT-15 recently. trays/stobes/arms all from IKE. Might switch to Ike's one day.

Sorry can't sell now as it's the only setup I have.

[waisj]

Originally Posted by zedd No I have not got the dome yet. really ex and and I think it's heavy. DS125 does provide enough coverage for the Inon WA alone especially if the diffusser is on. I'm using the Oly housing and just switch to the C5050 + PT-15 recently. trays/stobes/arms all from IKE. Might switch to Ike's one day. Sorry can't sell now as it's the only setup I have.

gee... thanks for the info.... really torn between the DS125 and Z220......
anyway... that later.. you photos are great
you were using the DS125 on the left and DS50 on the right?

[zedd]

Originally Posted by kng perhaps you cld try this instead? http://www.photocrafter.net/Media/sh...id=132&pid=775 Love your cuttlefish!! Was it a night dive or were you just using a small aperture setting?

Still can't get it. Will try with office P 2morrow.

Vis. was quite bad plus bad weather that day. So i tot I'll just close up the aperture and perhaps get more contrast with a black background instead of a greenish one. Think it's F10

[zedd]

Originally Posted by waisj gee... thanks for the info.... really torn between the DS125 and Z220...... anyway... that later.. you photos are great you were using the DS125 on the left and DS50 on the right?

Right. can see it's brighter on the left. Sometimes it's just not possiible to consider all possibilities before pressing the shutter. The subject usually would not wait. But that makes it so much more fun !!

Guess you know the pros and cons of both models. dont like the DS125 size, weight, battery but loves it recycle time, aiming light, coverage and power. Considering getting another DS125 if I can find someone willing to let go.

Maldives is really wonderful. consider it the Mecca of scuba diving.

BTW, can someone enlighten me on how to post pics with my replis ? Thanks !!